Aeres Academy - Chapter 29 preview

I managed to finish half my meal before I was bothered by the pair of Yorrick and Brand. They tromped over, Sarah and Kira both following along at a more sedate pace. I was a little surprised to see Kira back, though Yorrick I knew never missed a cheap meal. 

I had noticed them when I came in, but had chosen a seat away from the group for more private time. If there was one major drawback to this universe, the sheer volume of extroverts, as though introversion was something that had been bred out of them.

Or maybe it was just the social environment, that introversion and the withdrawal of the individual was of higher consequence. Perhaps the introverts in this world had learnt to fake extroversion better, and were just bumbling around, exhausted late at night and wondering why.

Explained the number of grumpy folks I noticed…

“Settle this for us, old man. Hire a cleaner or do it yourself?” Yorrick sat down without invitation, flopping down hard. “Brand here says do it yourself. Me, I figure hiring someone is better.”

“And the ladies?” I said, glancing at the two.

Sarah shrugged while Kira answered. “I’d rather hire someone to aid me, but I understand that might not be as viable to begin with. It’d certainly harm the total return and take longer to make runs financially sustainable.”

“Financially sustainable!” Scoffed Brand, mimicking her. “Typical merchant, always taking other people’s work. It’s why you should know how to do it yourself, so that you can cut the middleman out and make more.” 

Yorrick rolled his eyes. “How much faster can you go, though, if you have someone picking up after you. When I ran with-” he stopped, looked around, coughed. “On the streets, we always had others that we worked with. Being alone was never a good idea.”

Brand was too caught up in the argument to notice, Kira probably too naïve but I saw Sophia’s eyes narrow at the accidental revelation. A lot of little things clicked into place.

“No one said parties are bad,” Brand said. “Of course you party up. Which is why if everyone in the party specialized in one area, you can all harvest and move faster.” He tapped his chest. “Skin and monster parts, someone else can do the minerals, another plants and so on.”

“Aren’t there some super specialists? Who only work one type?” Sarah said. 

“Mostly monster harvesters, yes.” Brand shook his head. “Those only really become viable further down, there’s not enough work – or money – in it in the early levels. It takes much, much longer for the other specialists to narrow down further. And at the lowest levels, they no longer join with those teams.” It becomes too dangerous to follow the lead parties. Which is another reason to just do it yourself.”

“Sure, but we have to get that far down,” Yorrick said with a roll of his eyes. “We got to become real delvers, and for that to happen, we have multiple stages to pass in the dungeon itself.”

“You also have to pass the academy itself,” I said. “You’re all worrying about what you’ll do in the future, when you haven’t even completed the first week, never mind the first turning.”

Kira had a small smile on her lips at that, though Brand was the one to scoff.

“Please. As though any of us are going to fail.” He pointed at me and Kira. “You two are nearly good enough to pass the basic test at the first turning. I’m not far behind.” He frowned at Yorrick, who bristled. “Maybe not him.”

“I just need a little more time to improve my Skill!”

“Sure, sure…” 

“You~!”

Kira could not help but egg them on a little. "And Sophia?"

"She's scary." Brand immediately answered, shuddering. "No offense, but your Skill..."

Sophia shook her head. "It's not that bad..."

“It’s not that dangerous…” Kira said, that competitive streak in her rising up.

“I saw it cut apart multiple wasps apart, just as they flew out of their nest. One after the other, bam, bam, bam.” Brand gestured with his hands to illustrate the motion, though if he was playing charades, I’d give him a failing grade.

“So? I killed a ton of them with fire.”

“Yeah, but she’s got control,” Brand teased.

“You-!”

"Anyway, old man, what do you think?" Brand said, a teasing smile on his lips.

"Why's it matter?" I asked. "You all have your own ideas, so why ask me?" I raised a finger. "And don't give me that 'older and wiser' line."

"Well, I wasn't going to mention your white hair..." Brand trailed off at my unamused look before he shrugged. "Seriously, we're just curious."

A look around showed that the others were nodding along, agreeing with the boy. I had to remind myself that this was part of the bonding process, the camaraderie that I was - theoretically - supposed to be joining the academy to gain. This was how many adventuring parties started, groups of students sitting around, talking over their ideas, trying to work out who fit together. Creating bonds that would lead them through the dungeons and into the halls of fame. Maybe, perhaps, to become a god. 

If only.

I could not help but wonder, how much of this bonding process was cultural. How, after numerous tavern tales and bardic songs, after bedside stories told to impressionable children; these people were aping what had been done before. Trying to form these bonds because they expected them to occur in the here and now. How much of the successes - and perhaps, the failures - grew out of such convoluted social expectations. 

"I think it doesn't matter," I answered eventually when I realised they were not going to let it rest. “The best option right now is to learn as much as you can. Some of us already know a little,” I nodded to Brand, “while others might never have a skill at harvesting at all. We need to know how to do it anyway, because none of us can afford to hire a cleaner now. So we might as well learn as best we can and worry about the best party composition in the future.”

“Boring!” Yorrick cried out. “You could put Fenner to sleep.”

“Which one’s that one?” Sophia said, frowning.

“You don’t know?” Yorrick said, horrified. Brand and Kira looked put out too; but I was grateful she had asked.

Sophia shrugged. “My family isn’t much for your gods. We’re Centrists.”

“Oh…” Yorrick frowned. “Sure. Fenner’s the thin one. She’s clad in tight leather, has big-” glanced at Kira and Sophia, “-thighs and uses wires and garrotes. Her skill’s all about speed and movement.”

“The hyper one,” I muttered.

“What?”

Sophia muttered a word, and a few moments later, I had a new word to add to my vocabulary. The group were giving me a look, but I ignored it. Multiple languages were not uncommon on Haeros, though mostly in enclaves.

“You know, you never told us…” Brand started but I just spoke over him.

“You are right, I am boring. I have to. I’m old.” I smirked at the boys.

Sophia then proceeded to batt her eyes at me. “Well, some of us like those who are more mature.”

That elicited laughter as I studiously ignored her. Instead, I pointed to Kira. “Anyway, it’s not that easy to say wait. Some of us need to learn how to control their skills better, if they want anything but stones.”

“Or even work with other delvers,” Sophia said. “I remember having to avoid some hallways because of how hot they were.”

Yorrick looked particularly troubled at me bringing that up and I could not help but ask. “What’s wrong? You disagree?”

“No, no. Burnt hides are worthless. You’re right. I was just… thinking.”

“About?”

He shook his head, and I dropped it. Not that Brand got the note as he prodded the other boy with a finger. “Talk.”

“It’s nothing.”

“Talk!”

“Stop poking me!” 

“Make me.”

“Why you~!” The pair start pushing and shoving. Kira whose on that side shifts away, pulling her dish with her and I decide to kick their feet from under the table. They let out loud yelps, rubbing at their bruised shins. 

“What was that for?” Brand said.

“Hey! He was the one who started it!”

“I’m eating here,” I said. “Or I was trying to.”

“Children!” Kira has a good mum voice, with just the right tone that freezes the pair and a few others at nearby tables. They subside, and I am forced to remember that the redhead had a series of younger siblings gathered around when I first spotted her. “Now, why don’t you tell us what you were thinking, Yorrick? About me? Unless it was something disgusting?” That last was said with a tone of warning.

Rushing his sentence, Yorrick waves him hand up and around. “No, no, nothing like that. I just…” He sighed. “I was just wondering how your clothing manages to last. In all the heat.”

“So you were thinking something disgusting,” Sophia said, rolling her eyes.

“I was not!” Yorrick protested, and I watch as the group falls into squabbling once more. I’m a little impressed at how well he deflected the conversation. I have an inkling the boy’s thoughts were a lot more personal, but I have to admit to curiosity about the question he raised.

Not that I’d mention it to the fire-wielding adventurer anytime soon. Not with that dangerous look in her eyes and trio of hovering wisps.